South African Leaders Condemn Revisionists for Independent Drive

The South African Zionist Federation and the Board of Jewish Deputies issued a joint statement today denouncing a Revisionist fund-raising campaign as a breach of communal discipline” in the growing furore sparked by the activities of two Herut leaders for the Revisionists.

The right-wing party was expelled from the Zionist Federation for rejecting a compromise proposal and proceeding with an independent campaign for funds, Menachem Beigin, Herut party chief, and Chaim Landau, his deputy, came here last week to help the campaign.

One of the most striking developments was a public appeal in the Great Synagogue of Johannesburg by Chief Rabbi Louis Rabinowitz, made directly to Mr. Beigin who was one of the congregants at Friday evening services. Rabbi Rabinowitz urged the Herut leader to “present a fair picture of Israel and exercise restraint” during his fund-raising tour.

Rabbi Rabinowitz deplored the “breach in South African Jewry’s hard-won unity” and expressed hopes for a healing instead of widening of the breach if “wisdom and restraint” were manifested. Mr. Beigin told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that he “deplored” the “attacks” made upon him, “especially by the Zionist Federation,” adding that “we come to South Africa with good will towards all and rancor to none but since our arrival we have met with vilification and abuse.”

The joint statement was “unauthorized” and said that the Revisionist campaign was being held “in the period reserved for the United Communal Fund at the very moment of launching the 1957 campaign.”

“This is particularly deplorable because so much is at stake for the well-being of South African Jewry and especially for Jewish education in the current campaign,” the statement added.